Electric heater for liquid fuel



K AfW. LE PAGE.` ELEQTRlC HEATER `FOR LIQUID FUEL. APPLicATloN man$53.12, 1920.

1,382,518. Mmmm 21,192.1,

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC HEATER )FOR LIQUID FUEL.

Specication of Letters Patent. Pttllted, J 1111 21, 1921.

Application filed February l2, 1920. Serial No. 358,245.

To c/,ZZ whom t may concern:

Ee it known that I, ALFRED W. Ln PAGE, citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia,Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricHeaters for Liquid Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a means for electrically heating the liquidfuel for an internal combustion engine prior to its delivery into theair duct of the carbureter for transmission to the cylinders.

The object of the invention is to effect the heating of the fuel in amoderate but sulficient manner without naked exposure of the heatingelement to the liquid, and with a construction that allows the heatingelement to be readily removed for repair or renewal.

The invention is particularly described in' the following specification,reference being made to the drawings by which it 1s accompanied, 1nwhich- Figure l is a vertical section through the carbureter in theplane of the axis of the needle valve. 1

Fig. 2 is a vertical section in a plane through the axis of the heatingelement, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of connecting andsupporting the heating element within its inclosing tube.

In these drawings 2 represents the bowl of the cai-bureter, 3 being theair duct to the intake manifold at 1l, into which ductV the fuel oil isdelivered at 5, under control of the needle valve 6, the stem of whichis threaded in a gland-packed nut in the wall of the carbureter bowl.

The heating means, which is the particular subject of this application,comprises a high resistance coil 8 of nichroine or similar wiresupported axially within `a metal tube 7 which is relatively permanentlysecured across the bowl of the carbureter beneath the normal level ofthe` liquid fuel therein, and

adjacent the stem of the needle valve 6. This tubular chamber 7 may becast integral with the bowl of the carbureter. y

The terminal wires 10 of the coil 8 which constitutes the heatingelement, pass through. plugs l1 of insulating cement or the like, so asto support the coil axially within the tube, and their ends areconnected to terminal plates l2 secured on suitable insulation 13 oneach side of the carbureter, to which terirnl plates the circuit wiresare connected alu u The inner surface of the tube 7 is insulated frointhe wire of the tube 9 of mica or the like.

lVith this arrangement the liquid fuel is not in contact with theheatingr element 8 but the heat fromthe element is moderately and evenlyimparted to the surface of the tube 7 and therefrom to the liquid fuel,beneath the level of which the tube is immersed.

The heating element can thus be maintained with safety at such arelatively high temperature as to be economical in the amount of currentused, which cannot be done when the heating coil is immersed intheliquid fuel. V

A further distinct advantage `of this construction is that the heatingelement can be readily removed from the tube for repair or renewalwithout'disturbing the other parts of the carbureter.

I am aware that priorl to my invention liquid fuel has been lheatedelectrically be* fore delivery from the carbureter, and that coils ofhigh resistance wire have been used to effect this purpose.v In all suchwith which I ain acquainted, the liquid fuel has either been in directContact with the heating element, or that element has been covered witha non-conducting material which has itself been in direct contact withthe liquid, and have not been applied in a manner as to be readilyremovable. y

In no case with which I am acquainted has the heating element beeninclosed within an airtight chamber below the level of the liquid fuelin the carbureter, whereby danger of overheating is avoided and aneffective distribution ofthe heat attained.

Having now particularly described my invention, I hereby declare thatwhat I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

l. A means for heating liquid fuel for an internal combustion engine,said means comprising in combination with a carbureter, a fuelreservoir, a tube secured in the walls of the carbureter to extendthrough the fuel reservoir across the same below the level of the liquidtherein, a naked heating element within the tube, insulating plugs 1nthe ends of the tube through which connection with a source of electricenergy is made to the sustained by said terminal wires within theheating element, substantially as shown and tube and spaced from thewalls of the same, described. insulating blocks secured to the Wall ofthe 2. In combination with a Heat chamber carbureter, terminal platesmounted on said 5 of a carbureter, a tube secured in the Walls blocks toWhich said terminals are secured 15 of the carbureter to extend acrossthe and to which the Wires from a source of float chamber beneath thelevel of the liquid electric energy may be secured. therein, insulatingplugs in the ends of the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.tube, terminal Wires passing through'said 10 plugs into the tube and anaked heating coil ALFRED W. LE PAGE.

